Hyaluronan expression following middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat

Al'Qteishat, Ahmed, Gaffney, John, Krupinski, Jerzy and Slevin, Mark (2006) Hyaluronan expression following middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat. Neuroreport, 17 (11). pp. 1111-4. ISSN 0959-4965

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Abstract

Hyaluronic acid, a major component of the brain extracellular matrix, is a regulator of angiogenesis, cell differentiation and migration. We used the rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model to show hyaluronan accumulation in stroke-affected areas. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting we showed up-regulation of hyaluronidase-1 and 2 between 1 h and 21 days after stroke. Hyaluronidase-1 was up-regulated earlier than hyaluronidase-2. The hyaladherins, receptor for hyaluronan-mediated motility and CD44 were also increased after stroke. Using immunohistochemistry, we showed association of hyaluronidases 1/2 and hyaladherins with neurons in the infarcted and peri-infarcted regions and hyaluronidase-1 with microvessels. Hyaluronan synthesis and degradation in the stroke hemisphere might have an impact on neuronal survival, angiogenesis and general tissue remodelling after stroke.